Parenting

Dear AdviceMama,
My 14-year-old is always angry with her 11-year-old sister. She is also rude with me. She is very caring to others, especially little children, and is a good friend at school. It is hard for my younger daughter to watch he...It's painful to watch anyone treat our child unkindly, but it's doubly difficult when one of our own children is inflicting the damage.

Sometimes, we feel like the official parenting motto should be "I just can't win."
Honestly, you let your children take the reins when it comes to deciding what they want to do, and you're a slacker destined to raise hellion teenagers. You try...Being too over-protective of your kids could backfire, experts warn.

There's a sudden storm over the Atlanta airport, so our plane is patiently circling. The pilot says it shouldn't be more than an extra 15 or 20 minutes.
He comes back over the intercom 20 minutes later to say the storm isn't moving. Other planes a...There's a terror that builds up inside me when I think about leaving my children prematurely, no matter the reason.

I was just getting the hang of this how to parent young children thing, and now my son has decided to grow up. I think it's a plot to take me off my game.
Until now, things have been easy. He's a sweet kid. Funny, smart, nice. Never gets into any ...What happened to my sweet little boy who always does what I say?

Summer break has begun.
Some moms are thrilled about this. They can't wait to go on adventures and hang out all day long for weeks at a time with their kids. Their calendars are already filled with plans for family field trips and crafts and such....Planning 10 weeks of activities for the kids has this mom freaked out before summer has even begun.

I'm hungry. Can I have some pancakes? Will you help me go to the bathroom? Can I have a playdate after school today? I want to watch "Scooby-Doo" on TV later. Can you please come downstairs and make me breakfast now? I'm hungry!
This is within the...All the research in the world can't prepare you for the onslaught of wants from a child.

Isn't it nice when we all just get along? Credit: Getty Images
It's hard enough to find cool people to hang out with, let alone cool people who happen to have kids your kid's age and who have the same Saturday afternoon free that you d...Tired of playing police when your kid isn't getting along with others?

In a survey, 24 percent of parents say they place "some trust" in information provided by celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy. Credit: Getty Images
Looking for a little medical advice about your kid?...Do you trust Jenny McCarthy when it comes to parenting advice?

They say nothing really changes when you turn 40. It's true. It's 41 that's the kicker.
I turned 41 last December and have since experienced all sorts of surprising changes, like hair where once there was none and eyes -- eyes which have always se...Are you happy in the skin you are in?

Many years ago, I commuted every day, 45 minutes each way, to downtown Atlanta for my job. I was fortunate that I could afford to put my son in a top-notch day care facility, one that he and I both loved.
The day care had a very low ratio of babie...Why is it so important to companies that everyone work in the same place at the same time?

"Parentless Parents" looks at the growing number of adults whose parents have died. Credit: Hyperion
People are living longer, but apparently not long enough to make up for the "advanced maternal a...The author explores the growing demographic of parentless parents.

About seven years ago, I was laid off from my job. I was a marketing director at a well-known corporation, and, after a wonderful career there, I ended up with a boss I didn't like who didn't like me back.
I'll never forget the day he invited me u...About seven years ago, I was laid off from my job...

Over the past few years, there's been talk of a new camp ailment: childsickness. It's not children getting sick, it's parents homesick for their kids.
Pathetic, but understandable. After all, this is a generation of parents who spend a huge chunk ...Camp is the ultimate field trip -- one that doesn't need Mom or Dad tagging along for the ride.